Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 35 / Thursday, February 22, 2007 / Notices 8077 

Monitoring will also include a review of 

the agency’s income and expenses as 

they relate to this project to ensure per 

diem payment is accurate. 

Each per diem-funded program will 

participate in VA’s national program 

monitoring and evaluation system 

administered by VA’s Northeast 

Program Evaluation Center (NEPEC). It 

is the intention of VA to develop 

specific performance targets with 

respect to housing for homeless 

veterans. NEPEC’s monitoring 

procedures will be used to determine 

successful accomplishment of these 

housing outcomes for each per diemfunded program. 

VA encourages all eligible and 

interested entities to review this NOFA 

and consider applying for funds to 

provide service for homeless veterans. 

Authority: VA’s Homeless Providers Grant 

and Per Diem Program is authorized by Pub. 

L. 109–461, § 703, known as the Veterans 

Benefit, Health Care and Information 

Technology Act of 2006, codified at 38 U.S.C. 

2011, 2012, 2061, 2064. The program is 

implemented by the Final Rule codified at 38 

CFR Part 61.0. The Final Rule was published 

in the Federal Register on September 26, 

2003, the regulations can be found in their 

entirety in 38 CFR 61.0 through 61.82. Funds 

made available under this Notice are subject 

to the requirements of those regulations. 

Allocation: Approximately $10 

million annually is available for the per 

diem only award component of this 

program. This funding is subject to the 

availability of funds, and will be 

available so long as recipients meet the 

requirements of 38 CFR 61.1 through 

61.82. 

Funding Priorities: VA establishes the 

following funding priorities in order to 

bolster capacity for populations in areas 

that are underserved by the Homeless 

Providers Grant and Per Diem Program. 

Specifically, VA is seeking programs 

that are not necessarily women-specific, 

but in the course of daily operations 

serve women veterans with care of 

dependent children, and provide them 

with an opportunity to secure funding 

to offer services to this population. VA 

is not seeking to create large womenspecific programs, rather small niche 

housing and services for this 

underserved population in both urban 

and rural areas. 

Example: In the course of providing 

daily services a homeless provider 

serves 2–5 homeless veteran women 

with care of dependent children. This 

provider would create a small program 

that would supply appropriate housing 

and services to this population. 

In this round of ‘‘Per Diem Only’’

funding, VA expects to award funding 

for approximately 1,000 communitybased supported housing beds. 

Funding priority 1. Those programs 

that are not necessarily women-specific, 

but in the course of daily operations 

serve women veterans with care of 

dependent children and will create a 

niche program to serve this population. 

The applicant must clearly demonstrate, 

in the need section of the application, 

the number of beds for the women 

veterans and the number of beds for 

their dependent children. With this in 

mind, applicants are reminded that VA 

may only pay per diem for the women 

veteran—not the dependent children. 

Based on the total number of beds 

expected to be funded in this round, 

approximately 150 of the 1,000 beds 

expected to be funded) from eligible 

entities whose projects will provide 

housing and services specifically to 

homeless women veterans, with care of 

dependent children will be selected as 

the first funding priority. Of those 

eligible entities in the first funding 

priority, that are legally fundable, the 

highest scoring applicants will be 

funded first, followed by the second 

highest scoring applicants, until enough 

projects totaling approximately 150 beds 

for women are identified for funding. 

Applicants not selected in this priority 

will be placed in the second funding 

priority. Should the projected 150 bed 

total not be reached, remaining beds and 

funding will be placed in the second 

funding priority. 

Funding priority 2. Finally, VA is 

encouraging interested, state and local 

governments, Indian tribal governments, 

faith-based, and community-based 

organizations to apply for funding under 

this NOFA to serve all homeless 

veterans populations. Based on the total 

number of beds expected to be funded 

in this round, approximately 850 beds 

will be funded in this priority. Of those 

eligible entities that are legally 

fundable, the highest-ranked 

applications for which funding is 

available, will be selected for eligibility 

to receive per diem payment in 

accordance with their ranked order until 

enough projects totaling approximately 

850 beds are identified for funding or 

until funding is expended. 

Methodology: VA will review all noncapital grant recipients in response to 

this notice of funding availability. Then, 

VA will group the applicants into the 

funding priorities categories. Applicants 

will then be ranked within their 

respective funding category based on 

score and any ranking criteria set forth 

in that funding category, only if the 

applicant scores at least 500 cumulative 

points from paragraphs (b) (c) (d) (e) and 

(i) of 38 CFR 61.13. 

The highest-ranked application for 

which funding is available, within the 

highest funding category, will be 

conditionally selected for eligibility to 

receive per diem payment in accordance 

with their ranked order until VA 

reaches the projected bed totals for each 

category. If funds are still available after 

selection of those applications in the 

highest priority group, VA will continue 

to conditionally select applicants in 

lower priority categories in accordance 

with the selection method set forth in 

the Interim Final Rule Sec. 61.32. 

Application Requirements: The 

specific grant application requirements 

will be specified in the application 

package. The package includes all 

required forms and certifications. 

Selections will be made based on 

criteria described in the application, 

Interim Final Rule, and NOFA. 

Applicants who are selected will be 

notified of any additional information 

needed to confirm or clarify information 

provided in the application. Applicants 

will then be notified of the deadline to 

submit such information. If an applicant 

is unable to meet any conditions for 

grant award within the specified time 

frame, VA reserves the right to not 

award funds and to use the funds 

available for other grant and per diem 

applicants. 

Dated: February 16, 2007. 

R. James Nicholson, 

Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 

[FR Doc. E7–3024 Filed 2–21–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 8320–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

AFFAIRS 

Fund Availability Under VA Homeless 

Providers Grant and Per Diem Program 

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans 

Affairs (VA) is announcing the 

availability of funds for currently 

operational VA Homeless Providers 

Grant and Per Diem (GPD) providers to 

make applications for assistance under 

the Special Need Grant Component of 

VA’s GPD Program. The focus of this 

Notice of Fund Availability (NOFA) is 

to encourage new applicants to create 

new projects that will deliver services to 

the homeless Special Need veteran 

population. This Notice contains 

information concerning the program, 

application process, and amount of 

funding available. Note: Current Special 

Need providers should not respond to 

this NOFA. Renewal funding is being 

offered under a separate NOFA. 


rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES
8078 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 35 / Thursday, February 22, 2007 / Notices 

DATES: An original completed grant 

application (plus three completed 

collated copies) for each project seeking 

assistance under the VA’s GPD Program 

Special Need Grant Component must be 

received in the Grant and Per Diem 

Field Office, by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time 

on April 4, 2007. Applications 

submitted through Grants.gov will be 

the only electronic format accepted. 

Applications may not be sent by 

facsimile (FAX) or other electronic 

means (e-mail). In the interest of 

fairness to all competing applicants, this 

deadline is firm as to date and hour, and 

VA will treat as ineligible for 

consideration any application that is 

received after the deadline. This 

includes applications through 

Grants.gov. Applicants should take this 

practice into account and make early 

submission of their material to avoid 

any risk of loss of eligibility brought 

about by electronic transmission 

problems, unanticipated delays or other 

delivery-related problems. 

For a Copy of the Application 

Package: Download directly from VA’s 

Grant and Per Diem Program Web page 

at: http://www.va.gov/homeless/ 

page.cfm?pg=3 or call the Grant and Per 

Diem Program at (toll-free) 1–877–332–

0334. In this package is information on 

Grants.gov submission should 

applicants so desire. For a document 

relating to the VA’s GPD Program, see 

the Final Rule codified at 38 CFR Part 

61.0. 

Submission of Application: An 

original completed and collated grant 

application (plus three copies) for each 

project must be submitted to the 

following address: VA Homeless 

Providers Grant and Per Diem Field 

Office, 10770 N. 46th Street, Suite C–

200, Tampa, FL 33617. Applications 

must be received in the Grant and Per 

Diem Field Office by the application 

deadline. This includes applications 

submitted through Grants.gov. 

Applications must arrive as a complete 

package. Materials arriving separately 

will not be included in the application 

package for consideration. If all 

materials are not included in the 

application package, it may result in the 

application being rejected or not 

funded. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. 

Guy Liedke, VA Homeless Providers 

Grant and Per Diem Program, 

Department of Veterans Affairs, 10770 

N. 46th Street, Suite C–200, Tampa, FL 

33617; (toll-free) 1–877–332–0334. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This 

Notice announces the availability of 

funds for assistance under VA’s GPD 

Program for currently operational Grant 

and Per Diem providers to obtain grant 

assistance with additional operational 

costs that would not otherwise be 

incurred but for the fact that the 

recipient is providing supportive 

housing beds and services for the 

Special Needs of the following homeless 

veteran populations: 

Seriously Mentally Ill 

Women, including women who have 

care of minor dependents; Frail 

elderly; or 

Terminally Ill. 

Definitions of these populations are 

contained in 38 CFR 61.1 Definitions. 

Eligible applicants should review these 

definitions to ensure their proposed 

populations meet the specific 

requirements. 

VA is pleased to issue this NOFA for 

the Homeless Providers Grant and Per 

Diem Program as part of the effort to end 

chronic homelessness among our 

Nation’s veterans. Funding applied for 

under this Notice may be used for: The 

provision of service, operation, or 

personnel to facilitate the following 

with regard to the targeted group: 

Seriously Mentally Ill: 

(1) Help participants join in and 

engage with the community; 

(2) Facilitate reintegration with the 

community and provide services that 

may optimize reintegration such as lifeskills education, recreational activities, 

and follow-up case management; 

(3) Ensure that participants have 

opportunities and services for reestablishing relationships with family; 

(4) Ensure adequate supervision, 

including supervision of medication 

and monitoring of medication 

compliance; and 

(5) Provide opportunities for 

participants, either directly or through 

referral, to obtain other services 

particularly relevant for a seriously 

mentally ill population, such as 

vocational development, benefits 

management, fiduciary or money 

management services, medication 

compliance, and medication education. 

Women, including women who have 

care of minor dependents: 

(1) Ensure transportation for women 

and their children, especially for health 

care and educational needs; 

(2) Provide directly or offer referrals 

for adequate and safe child care; 

(3) Ensure children’s health care 

needs are met, especially ageappropriate wellness visits and 

immunizations; and 

(4) Address safety and security issues 

including segregation procedures from 

other program participants if deemed 

appropriate. 

Frail Elderly: 

(1) Ensure the safety of the residents 

in the facility to include preventing 

harm and exploitation; 

(2) Ensure opportunities to keep 

residents mentally and physically agile 

to the fullest extent through the 

incorporation of structured activities, 

physical activity, and plans for social 

engagement within the program and in 

the community; 

(3) Provide opportunities for 

participants to address life transitional 

issues and separation and/or loss issues; 

(4) Provide access to assistance 

devices such as walkers, grippers, or 

other devices necessary for optimal 

functioning; 

(5) Ensure adequate supervision, 

including supervision of medication 

and monitoring of medication 

compliance; and 

(6) Provide opportunities for 

participants either directly or through 

referral for other services particularly 

relevant for the frail elderly, including 

services or programs addressing 

emotional, social, spiritual, and 

generative needs. 

Terminally Ill: 

(1) Help participants address lifetransition and life-end issues; 

(2) Ensure that participants are 

afforded timely access to hospice 

services; 

(3) Provide opportunities for 

participants to engage in ‘‘tasks of 

dying,’’ or activities of ‘‘getting things in 

order’’ or other therapeutic actions that 

help resolve end-of-life issues and 

enable transition and closure; 

(4) Ensure adequate supervision 

including supervision of medication 

and monitoring of medication 

compliance; and 

(5) Provide opportunities for 

participants either directly or through 

referral for other services, particularly 

relevant for terminally ill such as legal 

counsel and pain management. 

VA is seeking, through this NOFA, to 

provide an opportunity to currently 

operational Grant and Per Diem 

providers that are located in areas where 

Special Need project collaboration with 

the local VA is not feasible due to 

geographic distance, in small urban or 

rural areas, or where the Special Need 

population is relatively small, yet in 

need of these services. VA is seeking 

these new projects to create a unique 

service niche for these less addressed 

Special Needs veteran populations. 

No part of a Special Need grant may 

be used for any purpose that would 

change significantly the scope of the 

specific grant and per diem project for 

which a Capital Grant and Per Diem was 

awarded. As a part of the review 

process, VA will review the original 


rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 35 / Thursday, February 22, 2007 / Notices 8079 

project listed in the Special Need 

application to ensure significant scope 

changes do not occur—displacing other 

homeless veteran populations. VA may 

reject for Special Need Funding, those 

applications that significantly alter the 

original scope (38 CFR 61.62). 

A separate Special Need application 

is required for each previously funded 

Grant and Per Diem project (identified 

by unique project number; see 

Application Requirements in this 

NOFA). 

Special Need funding may not be 

used for capital improvements or to 

purchase vans or real property. 

However, the leasing of vans or real 

property may be acceptable. Questions 

regarding acceptability should be 

directed to VA’s Grant and Per Diem 

Field Office (at the number listed 

above). Applicants may not receive 

Special Need assistance to replace funds 

provided by any Federal, state or local 

government agency or program to assist 

homeless persons. 

Authority: VA’s Homeless Providers 

Grant and Per Diem Program and 

Special Need Grant are authorized by 

Public Law 109–461, § 703 and § 706 

respectively, the law is known as the 

Veterans Benefit, Health Care and 

Information Technology Act of 2006, 

codified at 38 U.S.C. 2011, 2012, 2061, 

2064. The program is implemented by 

the Final Rule codified at 38 CFR Part 

61.0. The final rule was published in the 

Federal Register on September 26, 2003, 

the regulations can be found in their 

entirety in 38 CFR 61.0 through 61.82. 

Funds made available under this Notice 

are subject to the requirements of those 

regulations. 

Allocation: Approximately $6 million 

is available for Special Need GPD grant 

component of this program. Funding 

will be for a period beginning on 

January 1, 2008 and ending on 

September 30, 2009. Based on the 

amount of funding available the 

maximum allowable funding to any one 

operational Grant and Per Diem Special 

Need recipient under this NOFA will be 

$450,000.00 per project, for the 

specified time. The goal is to create new 

Special Need services for these 

homeless veterans’ populations. 

It is important to be aware that VA 

places great emphasis on responsibility 

and accountability. VA has procedures 

in place to monitor services provided to 

homeless veterans and outcomes 

associated with the services provided in 

Grant and Per Diem-funded programs. 

Applicants should be aware of the 

following: 

VA per diem payment is limited to 

the applicant’s cost of care per eligible 

veteran minus other sources of 

payments to the applicant for furnishing 

services to homeless veterans up to the 

per day rate VA pays for State Home 

Domiciliary care. Additionally, 

potential applicants should take into 

consideration, ‘‘Grant recipients that 

concurrently receive Per Diem and 

Special Needs payments shall not be 

paid more than 100 percent of the cost 

for the bed per day, product, operation, 

personnel, or service provided’’ (38 CFR 

61.61(h)). Awardees will be required to 

support their request for Per Diem and 

Special Needs payments with adequate 

fiscal documentation as to program 

income and expenses. 

All awardees that are conditionally 

selected in response to this NOFA must 

meet the Life Safety Code of the 

National Fire and Protection 

Association as it relates to their specific 

facility. VA will conduct an inspection 

or review a current inspection prior to 

awardees being able to submit request 

for payment to ensure this requirement 

is met. 

Each grant awardee will have the VA 

liaison that was appointed for its 

corresponding Grant and Per Diem 

program monitor services to ensure the 

Special Need grant is being met and will 

include at least an annual review of 

each program’s progress toward meeting 

internal goals and objectives in helping 

the Special Need homeless veterans as 

identified in each applicant’s original 

Special Need application. Monitoring 

for all participants will include a review 

of the agency’s income and expenses as 

they relate to this project to ensure Per 

Diem and Special Need payments are 

accurate. 

Monitoring of Homeless Special Need 

participants and services provided by 

Grant and Per Diem recipients will be 

accomplished according to the 

Northeast Program Evaluation Center 

(NEPEC) procedure. These monitoring 

procedures will be used to determine 

successful accomplishment of outcomes 

for each collaborative partnership. 

Funding Priorities: None. 

Agreement and Funding Actions: 

Conditionally selected applicants will 

complete a funding agreement with VA 

in accordance with 38 CFR 61.61 and 

provide any additional information as 

required by VA. Upon signature by the 

Secretary or designated representative, 

final selection will be completed. 

Funding for operational Grant and Per 

Diem applicants that are finally selected 

will not exceed the period specified in 

this NOFA. A condition to obtain the 

Special Need grant is for the applicant 

to maintain the original (grant or per 

diem) program for which the Special 

Need grant is sought. 

Application Requirements: A separate 

application is needed for each project 

number which you are requesting 

Special Needs funding. A project 

number is the last two digits of the year 

funded, the sequence the application 

was received, and the state abbreviation 

for the project location, (i.e., 00–125–

MA would have been funded in the year 

2000, the 125th application received, 

and the project is located in 

Massachusetts). If you do not know your 

project number call VA’s Grant and Per 

Diem Field Office (toll-free) at 1–877–

332–0334. 

The package includes the applicant’s 

required forms and certifications. 

Selections will be made based on 

criteria described in the application and 

additional information as specified in 

this NOFA. 

Applicants who are selected will be 

notified of any further additional 

information needed to confirm or clarify 

information provided in the application. 

Applicants will then be notified of the 

deadline to submit such information. If 

an applicant is unable to meet any 

conditions for grant award within the 

specified time frame, VA reserves the 

right to not award funds and to use the 

funds available for other grant and per 

diem applicants. 

Dated: February 16, 2007. 

R. James Nicholson, 

Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 

[FR Doc. E7–3029 Filed 2–21–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 8320–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

AFFAIRS 

Fund Availability Under VA Homeless 

Providers Grant and Per Diem Program 

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans 

Affairs (VA) is announcing the 

availability of funds for currently 

operational VA Grant and Per Diem 

Special Need Grant Recipients in 

conjunction with their collaborative VA 

Special Need partners to make reapplications for assistance under the 

Special Need grant component of VA’s 

Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem 

(GPD) Program. The focus of this Notice 

of Fund Availability (NOFA) is to 

encourage applicants to continue to 

deliver services to the homeless Special 

Need veteran population. This Notice 

contains information concerning the 

program, application process, and 

amount of funding available. 

DATES: An original completed grant 

application (plus three completed 


rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES